Formula One news
Schumacher decision logical, says Prost
12 August 2009Four-time World Champion Alain Prost agrees with Michael Schumacher's decision not to race in Valencia next weekend after the German, following careful deliberation with doctors, elected not to risk his injured neck. Frenchman Prost has also experienced the lure to make a comeback but fully understands Schumacher's decision.
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| Prost's F1 swansong came with Williams in 1993 |
With Schumacher having been drafted in to replace Felipe Massa who, in turn, was injured during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, the seven-time World Champion will remain behind the barriers in Valencia. "The desire and motivation to return takes time to disappear - it takes several years to abandon F1," Prost, who retired after clinching his fourth world crown in 1993, told France's Le Parisien newspaper.
"Michael and I hung up our helmets for different reasons but, when you are competitive, there is a great temptation to return. If there were any physical risks, though, Schumacher was right; the neck is crucial in motorsport and if there is pain there you can quickly suffer from nausea and impaired vision."
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| In the wake of Schumacher's decision, the No.3 Ferrari will be driven by Luca Badoer in Valencia |
With some critics believing that the German's decision may have been swayed by believing he was off the pace, Prost balanced out the evidence: "It remains to be seen if Schumacher stopped only because of the health problem or because, when he resumed, he thought he would realise that the task was enormous. He has not competed in F1 for three years and had only three weeks to prepare. The body changes very quickly when you stop racing; a driver does not react the same way and the vision is not as sharp - when I returned in 1993, after a break of eight months, it was very difficult to find the optimum level and Schumacher may need more time."
The Lorette driver also described how moves to McLaren and Ferrari stalled in the mid 1990's due to his own lack of willingness. "In 1994, McLaren asked me to take the wheel," he explained. "I conducted three days of testing and I immediately realised that something was missing; the speed was there but not the will to manage the pressures, travel and media commitments that come with a championship campaign. A year later, Jean Todt (Ferrari team principal) suggested that I could become team-mate to Schumacher to help him become champion with Ferrari. I would have been clearly number two, which was okay - I almost drove for them but eventually didn't for the same reasons."
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